FAA AMT (Aviation Maintenance Technician) Airframe Practice Exam

What component of an autopilot system applies torque to the control surfaces of an aircraft?

1. Actuator

2. Servo

3. Processor

4. Sensor

The correct answer is: Servo

The servo is the component of an autopilot system that applies torque to the control surfaces of an aircraft. This choice is correct because the purpose of a servo is to move or control the movement of a mechanical system. In the context of an autopilot system, the servo is responsible for translating electronic signals from the autopilot's processor into physical movements that adjust the control surfaces of the aircraft. This allows the autopilot system to make precise changes to the aircraft's direction and altitude. The other options, while all important components of an autopilot system, are not directly responsible for applying torque to the control surfaces. An actuator is a generic term that can refer to various devices that convert energy into motion, but it does not specify a particular function within an autopilot system. The processor is the brain of the autopilot system, but it does not directly control the movement of the control surfaces. Similarly, the sensor collects data to inform the decisions made by the processor, but it does not directly manipulate the control surfaces. Overall, while all of these components are crucial in the functioning of an autopilot system, the servo specifically performs the task of applying torque to the control surfaces and is thus the correct answer to the question.